Smitha K. Magal

🪔 About

Smitha K. Magal is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and the founder of Silambam, a dance school based in Dublin, Ohio, USA. Born and raised in Chennai, India, Magal began her Bharatanatyam training at the age of nine, becoming a disciple of the esteemed Professor Sudharani Raghupathy, a living legend in the field. Her mother played a significant role in fostering her dedication to the art form, ensuring she attended classes three times a week. By the age of 21, Bharatanatyam had fully captivated her, transforming from a maternal aspiration into her personal passion. Magal moved to the United States from Chennai in the early 1990s. A couple of years after her migration, around 1992 or 1993, and shortly after the birth of her first child, her guru encouraged her to begin teaching Bharatanatyam. She started by conducting weekly classes from her kitchen, which eventually led to the establishment of her dance school, Silambam, in Dublin, Ohio. Silambam operates in alliance with her alma mater, Shree Bharatalaya, employing a structured and disciplined teaching methodology. Magal emphasizes not only dance technique but also the cultural and historical significance of Bharatanatyam, encouraging students to learn to sing dance items and understand their meanings. Senior students at Silambam are also taught nattuvangam, the art of wielding cymbals for dance. Beyond her academy, Smitha Magal has served as a visiting instructor of dance at Kenyon College, teaching Bharatanatyam as a beginning dance course. She has trained numerous students, presenting them in their Rangapraveshams (solo debut performances). Magal is also involved in community service, having organized food drives with her students for the Dublin Food Pantry for many years. She has performed at various venues across Ohio, including commissioned works, and has conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations at institutions like Lucent Technologies, JP Morgan & Chase, BalletMet, and The Ohio State University. Awards & Honours: Bharata Kala Bhushana (1995), Individual Artists Fellowship (2001), Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Award (2020).